Louisiana

Federal judge to decide if Louisiana’s buffer law for police is constitutional

Published

1 year ago

December 14, 2024

Federal judge to decide if Louisiana’s buffer law for police is constitutional

A state law the Louisiana Legislature passed earlier this year allows police to arrest people who come within 25 feet of an on-duty law enforcement officer after they have been ordered to disperse.

Attorneys representing six news organizations challenged the statute in a federal courtroom this week. The legal team from Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit, argued for an injunction to block Louisiana officers from enforcing the new law, which went into effect Aug. 1.

Now the decision rests in the hands of U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles, who listened to arguments from the plaintiffs’ attorneys as well as defense rebuttals made by attorneys from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. The hearing was held Wednesday morning inside the U.S. Middle District of Louisiana courthouse in downtown Baton Rouge.

At issue are the merits of House Bill 173, a measure that state lawmakers gave overwhelming support during this year’s regular session and Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law May 24. State Rep. Bryan Fontenot. R-Thibodeaux. sponsored the bill, which gives officers a 25-foot buffer zone and makes it illegal to encroach on that protective area if an officer orders someone to move.

Fontenot and others who supported the law said it is another weapon to help ensure safety for law enforcement officials if they feel threatened while on duty. But attorneys for Verite News, Gannett, Gray, Nextstar, Scripps and Tegna argued that the buffer law, as written, is too broad and doesn’t provide any framework to restrain officers from abusing the statute.

Plaintiff attorney Grayson Clary indicated that an officer can order someone to disperse for any reason, as arbitrary as not liking the shirt they are wearing. If the person refuses, they could be subjected to arrest and whisked away to jail.

Clary told Judge deGravelles it amounts to a First Amendment violation — one that could have a “chilling effect” on journalists who worry about being arrested if they come too close to officers while covering crime scenes, crashes, parades, sporting events, protests and other newsworthy events. He argued that provisions are already built into state law to protect against obstructionists who interfere with investigations or threaten officer safety.

Clary suggested the new law’s aim could be to stop reporters and other bystanders from filming police conduct, and it gives officers “unbridled discretion” to stop what he said should be a First Amendment right.

“The law seems to be to discourage observation and documentation of police authority in particular,” he said.

Assistant Solicitor General Caitlin Huettemann, of the AG’s office, said that in the nearly five months since the law took effect, no officers have made arrests or even issued a move-along order under the new rule, and the state hasn’t prosecuted anyone for violating the law. She said the 25-foot buffer gives officers time to realize their safety may be at risk and allows them a chance to respond.

Characterizing worries that the law will have a chilling effect as conjecture, she said the plaintiffs had no standing for their complaint because the law hasn’t been enforced, so there is no injurious conduct to litigate. In asking deGravelles to dismiss the lawsuit, Huettemann insisted the case isn’t ripe for judicial review because no officer has abused or even enforced the law.

“No rights have been or are likely to be affected,” she argued. “These are all claims based on anticipated future action.”

But deGravelles pressed Huetteman on the language in the statute. When the judge asked if officers can give move orders “willy nilly” even if there is no basis for the directives to disperse, she conceded the law does give police unbridled discretion. But she said that doesn’t make the law vague, reiterating her stance that those are hypothetical scenarios not founded in actual incidents.

Clary maintained his position that the law needs more specificity to narrowly define the situations when officers can employ the buffer zone. He noted that Indiana is the only other state that has a police buffer law, but it is currently enjoined as the focus of two ongoing legal battles in the Hoosier State.

“The problem in this law is there’s nothing in the law that says officers can make people withdraw if they pose a risk to obstruction, public safety or officer safety,” Clary argued. “There’s too much innocent conduct left in. Officers need some way to pick and choose. There needs to be some way to distinguish the good conduct from the bad.”

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Louisiana

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

Published

2 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.

Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.

According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.

A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.

“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.

Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.

Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.

“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.

Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.

Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 3, 2026

Published

14 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing

07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing

6-8-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing

3-6-7-4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 3 drawing

0-8-3-2-0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Louisiana

Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past

The brother of Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts — accused of raping her son’s teenage friend — is facing child sex crimes of his own.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, was accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years, KALB reported.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, is accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years. Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office

The alleged sexual abuse began when one of the victims was as young as 13, according to Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford.

He was arrested in October.

Booking photo of Misty Clanton Roberts. — Brandon’s sister, Misty, the ex-mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, allegedly raped her son’s teenage friend. AP

That comes years after his big sister – ex-mayor of DeRidder, 43-year-old Misty Roberts – allegedly got hot and heavy with her son’s 16-year-old friend at a drunken party at their home.

Roberts was allegedly caught in the tryst by her own kids.

She was arrested months later, and is currently on trial for rape charges.

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